Toronto faces continued frustration from residents and business owners after a series of snowstorms resulted in significant accumulations. Despite crews working around the clock, many sidewalks remain un-cleared, impacting pedestrian access and local businesses like the barber shop owned by Sho Kahn, who reports decreased traffic. Mayor Olivia Chow has refrained from grading the snow-clearing efforts so far, emphasizing the need for ongoing work, while the city has reported removing substantial amounts of snow, and plans to address remaining ice and snow banks amidst cold conditions.
Sho Kahn, a barber shop owner on College Street, expressed frustration over declining walk-in traffic due to snow blocking access. 'People are unable to walk and it slows the business down,' he said, further noting that transit stops were obstructed. However, he acknowledged improvement on Friday, stating, 'Finally, we see the plows out; it's beautiful.'
Mayor Olivia Chow provided a measured response to the city's snow-clearing efforts, saying, 'You don't give a report card until the end of the term.' She implied ongoing efforts are underway and that it's premature to evaluate the effectiveness of the city’s response.
The city reported that it had removed over 70,000 tonnes of snow from more than 100 kilometers of roads and 18 kilometers of sidewalks, but acknowledged that many sidewalks were still un-cleared. This ongoing work is hampered by cold temperatures that keep snow piles intact.
August Puranauth from TTC Riders mentioned the challenges pedestrians face due to remaining snow piles, stating that narrowed sidewalks and obstructed transit access are significant issues that continue to impact city life despite ongoing clearing efforts.
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